§ Mr. Higginsasked the Lord Privy Seal why the numerous changes in ministerial telephone numbers were not notified to those responsible for producing the House of Commons telephone directory, so that a new directory could he issued before the changes were made; what Government Department is responsible for such matters; if he will estimate how many man hours have been wasted as a result of this information not being available in a convenient form; and when a directory with the new numbers is now likely to be available.
§ Mr. BiffenEach Government Department is responsible for its own arrangements to notify callers when ministerial telephone numbers are changed. The December 1986 issue of the Palace of Westminster telephone directory was submitted for printing in early November at which time no information on the future changes of some ministerial numbers was available.
It is not possible to state how many man-hours have been wasted on account of the lack of information on revised telephone numbers. The Palace of Westminster operators now have an updated list of ministerial telephone numbers shown in the Palace directory and hon. Members may obtain this information by dialling 100. Amended Palace of Westminster directories are produced three times a year; the next issue will be made in April 1987.